What does a mock US rocket launcher in a mainland China car park say about a Taiwan conflict?
Social media video shows three trucks in Jiangsu province that look a lot like the Himars system
A video circulating on mainland Chinese social media this week showed three trucks resembling the US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars).
The replica trucks appeared to be lighter than genuine Himars units and, according to the video, lacked rocket launchers.
The footage showed the vehicles stationed in Xuzhou in the eastern province of Jiangsu. The South China Morning Post has yet to independently verify when the video was taken.
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The trucks are expected to be used during People’s Liberation Army (PLA) exercises simulating a conflict involving Taiwan, which in May tested its high-precision Himars rocket systems for the first time.
Each Himars unit, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is equipped with six multiple launch rockets with a maximum range of 70km (43½ miles), and can carry a single Army Tactical Missile System with a range of up to 300km.